Closure for furniture and the like



March 27, 1962 A. MCPHADEN 3,026,543

CLOSURE FOR FURNITURE AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 3, 1959 IN VEN TOR.

LAWRENCE A. N c PHADEN PM /W ATTORNEY United States Patent dice 3,026,543 Patented Mar. 27, 1962 3,026,543 CLOSURE FOR FURNKTURE AND THE LIKE Lawrence A. McPhaden, Maple Ave., Lake City, Pa. Filed Dec. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 857,092 2 Claims. (Cl. 100) This invention relates to closures and, more particularly, to sides for childrens beds, playpens, and the like.

In beds and cribs having sides which can be raised or lowered, it is often difficult for the child to enter the crib unassisted. The present invention provides a simple, neat appearing, efficient closure for use in providing an opening in the side of a crib or playpen. The closure utilizes removable spokes which, when in place, have the same appearance as other spokes in the closure and, therefore, do not interfere with the appearance of the closure and, also, do not reveal their removability to a stranger or to the child occupying the crib or playpen.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide an improved closure of the class described.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved side for a crib or playpen wherein spokes can be removed to allow access to the crib.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure in combination with a crib.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved closure which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and simple and efficient to use.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG, 1 is a side view of a crib according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of part of the top rail of the closure;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the bottom rail of the closure; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of one of the removable spokes.

Now with more specific reference to the drawing, a crib generally indicated at has ends 11 and 12 having suitable floor engaging casters 13 and 14. Suitable springs and mattresses 15 will be provided and supported by a superstructure carried by braces 16 and 17.

The upper ends of the posts at each side of the ends 11 and 12 have the upper ends of rods 18 and 19, respectively, attached thereto. The lower ends of the rods 18 and 19 will be supported on brackets 20 and 21 which are attached to the posts on the ends 11 and 12. Springs 22 and 23 are supported on the brackets 20 and 21 for engaging and preventing impact of a side 24 when it is lowered.

The upper and lower rail of the sides 24 are bored to receive the rods 18 and 19 so that the side rails may be slid up and down in a conventional manner. The sides 24 have top rails 25 and bottom rails 26 held together by spokes 27. The spokes 27 may be fixed to the rails 25 and 26 by glue or the like.

Two removable spokes 28 are provided. Each of the removable spokes 28 has a lower dowel 29 integrally attached thereto which is received in a bore 30. The upper end of spoke 28 is received in an enlarged bore 31 in the top rail 25 and is slidable therein against the force of a spring 33. The spoke 28 has a central hole 32 therein which receives the lower end of the spring 33. The upper end of the spring 33 engages a bottom 34 of the bore 31 and urges the spoke 28 downwardly.

To remove the spoke 28, it is merely necessary for the operator to grasp the spoke 28 and force it upwardly to press the spring 83. This will move the dowel 29 upwardly in the bore 30 and allow it to swing outwardly and, therefore, the spoke 28 can be removed.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A crib having a gate for a side member, a first rail and a second rail spaced from each other, means attaching said first rail and said second rail together, an opening in said gate, a removable spoke supported across said opening, the first end of said spoke being received in a hole in said first rail, the second end of said spoke being received in an opposed hole in said second rail, and resilient means urging said spoke toward said second rail, said hole in said first rail being of sufiicient depth to allow said spoke to be forced thereinto against the force of said resilient means a suflicient distance to allow the second end thereof to be moved out of said hole in said second rail, said second end of said spoke having a reduced size dowel on the end thereof, said reduced size dowel being received in said hole in said second rail.

2. The crib recited in claim 1 wherein said hole in said first rail is substantially the same size as the size of the body in said spoke and said hole in said second rail receives a dowel on the second end of said spoke.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,952,686 Sakier Mar. 27, 1934 2,559,464 Roberg July 3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 463,621 Canada Mar. 14, 1950 328,702 Switzerland May 14, 1958 

